College football transfer portal tracker: Latest entries, player rankings, biggest transactions for 2026

The next era of the college football transfer portal officially opens Jan. 2, but make no mistake -- the 2026 cycle is already underway. Behind the scenes, portal boards have been set for months. Agents are working phones. Players are making quiet decisions. As one source put it, "Deals are being struck."

December may be quiet on the traditional recruiting calendar, but the portal never really sleeps anymore. A new 15-day winter window (Jan. 2–16), the elimination of the spring window and revised rules tied to coaching changes were all designed to bring order to the chaos. Instead, they've only shifted when the chaos hits.

Our transfer portal live updates will track the biggest updates in real time, while the 247Sports links below are your one-stop shop for player-by-player additions and real-time updates on class and player rankings. 

NCAA transfer portal via 247Sports: Latest portal additions | Team transfer rankings | Top player rankings

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt no-shows team banquet

One of the biggest dominoes of this year's college football transfer portal cycle will be the upcoming decision Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt will make: Stay at his current school, or enter the transfer portal.

If it's the latter -- and all indications lean that way at this time after Leavitt reportedly didn't attend ASU's end-of-the-season banquet -- his market will be robust. Leavitt was reportedly the only captain to not attend the banquet -- spurring his coach, Kenny Dillingham, to essentially bid him adieu, as told by Chris Karpman of SunDevilSource. 

"When it came time to honor Leavitt, Dillingham told the entire audience that it would be cowardly not to mention Leavitt while recognizing the rest of the team's captains, even though he wasn't there, several attendees recounted. 

The comments were taken to be ironic by some in attendance because Leavitt had no-showed at the banquet.

"Dillingham then said that he wished Leavitt well "in whatever his future may hold."

Leavit entered this season as a potential 2026 NFL Draft candidate. However, Leavitt appeared in just seven games after undergoing season-ending foot surgery in October. 

Returning to school in 2026 is the most logical option because of that.Leavitt transferred to Arizona State from Michigan State after the 2023 season and helped the program reach the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns during the 2024 campaign and helped ASU win the Big 12 title after the program was picked to finish near the bottom of the conference standings.

So, who could go after Leavitt? Two logical names to consider are LSU and Texas Tech. LSU just hired Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss and needs a quarterback. As for Texas Tech, the program has shown it will spend on premium position players. -- Cameron Salerno

Texas RB C.J. Baxter to enter portal (12/8)

Texas redshirt sophomore running back CJ Baxter will enter the transfer portal, sources confirmed to Horns247.

Coming out of Florida in the class of 2023, Baxter was a can't-miss prospect, ranking as the nation's No. 1 running back recruit, according to 247Sports.

The 6-foot-1, 227-pounder appeared primed to follow in the footsteps of Longhorn legend Bijan Robinson, earning the starting running back job as a true freshman. Baxter struggled with injuries during an up-and-down freshman campaign (659 yards), though, then suffered an awful knee injury in 2024 fall camp and did not look like himself upon his 2025 return (196 yards on 54 attempts). He has two years to play two. -- Eric Henry